A masked friend told me the other day, to my unmasked face, that we all have to know what we believe, and why, and live by our convictions. And accept, when others live by theirs.

He was talking about masks.

But, you know, he was right in so many ways.

Covid19 has made us all think about things we didn’t use to think about.

I have thought a lot about the idea of fear.

When we first learned about this horrible new disease, we were quickly convinced that it was going to spread so fast, that the hospitals would be overwhelmed, and people would be dropping like flies.

“We have to lockdown for two weeks to slow the curve of infections.”

Toilet paper, paper towels, disinfectant, and many other common items began to disappear from the grocery shelves.

We were convinced that every person could be carrying the virus that could potentially take our life.

We separated, we masked, and we stayed home.

For way more than two weeks.

Churches followed the rules and closed down.

For way more than two weeks.

Every time I began to question why, I was told that the disease is very dangerous, and we all have to do our part to stop its spread. I may be a carrier, even if I have no symptoms.

There is a scripture I learned years ago.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

I had to figure out, what does “with all my heart” mean?

In 1978, I became a new person. I looked the same, but, on the inside, a brand new life was beginning to grow.

I began to see the world around me through the eyes of the One that was living inside me.

“Fear not,” He would say, “for I am with you.”

“Do not worry about what you would say if you were questioned, for I will give you the words when you need them.”

“Do not fear when men attack you. I am always here.”

“Do not fear the the deadly pestilence, or the terror at night, or the arrow that flies by day, nor the plague that follows at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” Psalm 91 (paraphrase)

So, trusting with all my heart, does it mean believing what He says?

I believe this virus is real. I do not believe everything I am being told about it. How can we believe anything that comes from political positions or from the “news” media these days?

What is Truth?

So, if my God tells me not to fear, do I hide myself from every possibility of being exposed to this virus?

Is it possible that trusting Him is the best protection from everything that could possibly happen to me?

During Covid19, I was found to have colon cancer.

A peace that I could not explain rested in me.

I trusted God and went through the process of having it removed.

I was prepared to live, if He planned that for me, or not to live, if that was His plan.

Trusting means letting God order my paths, letting God take me directions I did not plan to go, letting the onset of fear be an indication that maybe I am not trusting Him with all my heart.

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Matthew 6:25

We were made to interact with each other, to talk, to share, to hold, to help.

“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But, in you heart, revere Christ as Lord.” 1Peter 3:14-15

When anyone tells me the safe thing to do is to separate from others, to cover my face (and my smile) and to wash my hands fifty times a day, because that shows that I care about the health and well-being of others,

Somehow, that doesn’t seem like trusting the Lord with all my heart.

Where He leads me, I will (try to) follow.